Land O’ Lakes, Fla. (January 19, 2024) — In an exciting development aimed at advancing the educational excellence it’s been providing on the north side of Tampa for 31 years, Academy at the Lakes proudly announces the commencement of a brand-new building project that will transform the school and elevate the learning environment for students from PreK3 through 12th grade.
The project marks a significant expansion initiative, reflecting Academy’s commitment to providing excellent facilities for its diverse student body. This new building is designed to enhance the overall educational experience by fostering innovation, collaboration, and academic achievement.
Mark Heller, head of school at Academy at the Lakes, said, “Families are drawn here, not just by our top-notch academics and proven results, but also by the diversity we value and embrace, our warm and accessible culture, and our unwavering belief that every student, every family, and every community member matters. We’ve expanded our offerings so much; now it is time for our physical facilities to catch up and step FORWARD! Our children, our families, and our program deserve the enhancements this campaign will bring.”
Key features of the new building include:
- Spacious Classrooms, equipped with the latest educational technology
- Innovation Hubs that provide dedicated spaces for STEM education, arts, and other specialized programs
- Community spaces that include areas for gatherings, a black box theater for performances, and room for collaborative projects.
These additions are much anticipated improvements, aimed at facilitating dynamic and interactive learning experiences, nurturing creativity and critical thinking, and promoting a sense of community among students, faculty and staff.
The school will host a groundbreaking ceremony on January 19, 2024, to mark the commencement of construction. This event brings together key stakeholders, community leaders, and supporters to celebrate this milestone and showcase the school’s dedication to providing outstanding educational experiences for students from PreK3 through high school.
As Academy at the Lakes embarks on this transformative journey, we invite the community to stay engaged and follow the progress of the FORWARD! building project.
For any inquiries related to the development of this project or to discuss partnership opportunities, please feel free to reach out to Jessica Fugate, director of development, at jfugate@academyatthelakes.org or 813-948-7600, ext. 310.
About Academy at the Lakes:
Academy at the Lakes first opened its doors in 1992 with an enrollment of 32 students in Kindergarten through 6th grade. Since then, the school has become one of Tampa Bay’s most outstanding PK – 12th-grade college preparatory schools, featuring a beautiful lakeside campus and exceptional academic, athletic, and arts programs. The school now serves more than 500 students in PreK3 through Grade 12, and is ranked by Niche as Paco County’s #1 Private School.
Academy’s growth has been synonymous with the expansion of Pasco County and the North Tampa area. Centrally located in Land O’ Lakes, Academy employs more than 100 faculty and staff members and partners with area businesses as a resource for the broader community.
As the school community has gradually expanded from its original enrollment of 32 students on one campus to more than 500 strong on two sites, the school has begun to outgrow its classrooms and community spaces. Enrollment growth has also meant expansion in several programmatic areas – technology, the arts, and athletics.
Between 2013 and 2021, the school has acquired significant undeveloped acreage in the heart of Land O’Lakes, very close to its current campuses. Development of the new acreage begins with this campaign.